PONANT invites you on an all-new 9-day cruise between the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, departing from Muscat. Come aboard LeJacques-Cartier, and set off to discover the treasures of the desert of the Arabian Peninsula.

In the charming port of Sour, on the far south of the peninsula, you will discover maritime traditions that date back a thousand years. Today, they still build dhows there. These are the typical boats that were used to transport goods on the spice route.

Le Jacques-Cartier will then drop anchor in Khasab, the gateway to the sublime “fjords of Arabia” that you will be able to explore aboard a traditional boat, before setting sail for Doha, in Qatar. In this city blending tradition and modernity, next to the most recent skyscrapers, you will discover a superb museum home to treasures of Islamic art, and the sparkling colours of the Waqifsouk which brings the heart of the old town to life.

You will then stop off at the nature reserve of the island of Sir Bani Yas, a veritable wildlifesanctuary.

Your ship will take you towards Abu Dhabi, the booming capital of the United Arab Emirates. You will be able to make the most of this day to visit the fantastic new Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum and the Grand Mosque, one of the largest in the world.

Finally, you will reach fascinating and futuristic Dubai, the kingdom of excessiveness, the end of your cruise.

LE JACQUES CARTIER

Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed staterooms, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 staterooms and suites will offer you a truly unique cruising experience.

As the sixth ship in a new series that remains true to the Ponant spirit, Le Jacques Cartier will embody the unique atmosphere that is the cruise line’s hallmark: a subtle blend of refinement, intimacy and comfort.

Aboard this ship that flies the French flag, you will experience the incomparable pleasure of an intimate cruise, with the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic-chic ambiance with luxury service.

Experience a luxurious setting where the accent is on authenticity and passion for travel.

Port of call & excursions

Muscat

Unlike neighbouring metropolises, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman has chosen to ban towers and skyscrapers and to cultivate the peninsula’s traditional and refined architectural style: low houses, domes, moucharaby windows, and wooden balconies. This authenticity adds to the charm of this small former maritime city protected by mountains and the forts constructed by the Portuguese in the 16th century. There is no doubt that you will fall under the charm of the treasures of Omani craftsmanship: the souk in the old district of Mutrah is a perfect example of this, as is the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, reputed to have the world’s largest hand-made carpets.

7 January 2021 – Sur

Arrival 07/01/2021 early morning. Departure 07/01/2021 midday.

8 January 2021 – Khasab

Arrival 08/01/2021 midday. Departure 08/01/2021 late afternoon.

9 January 2021▸10 January 2021 – Doha

Arrival 09/01/2021 mid afternoon. Departure 10/01/2021 early evening.

On the banks of the Persian Gulf, discover Doha, the capital of Qatar. Rising out of the desert, the city has managed to maintain its traditions in spite of a frantic race for modernity. The cliff bordering Doha Bay has magnificent views over the city centre’s enormous constructions. The silhouette of the Museum of Islamic Art rises up near the quays, where the region’s typical sailboats, known as dhows, are docked. This “fortress”, designed by Ming Pei, the architect of the Louvre pyramid, is home to the finest collections of Islamic art in the world. Not far, the lively district of Souq Waqif and its colourful stalls are also an unmissable visit.

11 January 2021 – Sir Bani Yas

12 January 2021 – Abu Dhabi

Arrival 12/01/2021 early morning. Departure 12/01/2021 late evening.

The political capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi stands out thanks to its exceptional cultural offering. In the Saadiyat Island district, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, designed by Jean Nouvel as a museum town inspired by traditional Arab architecture, creates a dialogue between objects and works from civilisations from all over the world around the great universal questions. A little further, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque boasts a sumptuous decor of marble, gold and glass. Abu Dhabi is also the gateway to the Al Ain oasis and its 150,000 date palms, a remarkable testimony to the settling of nomads in the region since Neolithic times, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

13 January 2021 – Dubai

Arrival 13/01/2021 early morning. Departure 13/01/2021.

Vertiginous, excessive, immoderate… Dubai, the largest city in the United Arab Emirates, stands out for its architectural follies. Home to the world’s tallest skyscraper, the Burj Kahlifa, with a total height of 828 metres, almost three times that of the Eiffel Tower, the city is also famous for the gigantic scale of the Palm Islands, its artificial islands in the form of a palm tree. You can explore more traditional districts not far away, with visits of the souks of Deira or the Gold Souk. Or perhaps you would prefer to discover Dubai Museum: located in an 18th-century fort, it tells the city’s history from Antiquity to the present day.

Dubai

Disembarkation 14/01/2021 at 08H00 .

Vertiginous, excessive, immoderate… Dubai, the largest city in the United Arab Emirates, stands out for its architectural follies. Home to the world’s tallest skyscraper, the Burj Kahlifa, with a total height of 828 metres, almost three times that of the Eiffel Tower, the city is also famous for the gigantic scale of the Palm Islands, its artificial islands in the form of a palm tree. You can explore more traditional districts not far away, with visits of the souks of Deira or the Gold Souk. Or perhaps you would prefer to discover Dubai Museum: located in an 18th-century fort, it tells the city’s history from Antiquity to the present day.

Formalities

The information below is current but subject to change at any time without advance notice from government authorities. Please consult your respective government agencies for visa and health information.

Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the completion of your trip. Passport must contain at least two completely clear, blank, unused visa pages for each visa required, not including any amendment pages. Visa pages with stains or ink from other pages in the passport are not usable. Guests who deviate from the scheduled embarkation or disembarkation port should research the foreign entry requirements for the port country. Due to government regulations, regrettably, Ponant will have to deny boarding to any guest who fails to obtain the appropriate travel documentation for this trip.

Warning about the use of drones: the use of drones aboard PONANT ships, whether they are sailing at sea, at a port of call or anchored, is strictly forbidden. The use of drones on land in the Arctic and Antarctic regions is also strictly forbidden by international polar regulations. In other regions, it may be possible to use drones on land if permission has been obtained from the relevant authorities of each country and each region travelled through, as well as a pilot’s licence that should be obtained from your home country. Passengers are responsible for obtaining these permits; they should be able to present them at all times. Passengers who do not obtain these authorisations expose themselves to the risk of legal proceedings.

Qatar - Visa issued onboard (at no charge)

Oman : a visa is mandatory. When arriving by air, the visa can be obtained at the airport. When arriving by sea, the visa will be obtained and charged onboard (15€ subject to change).